"Echos of Resilience with Jess Jocay on Music Saved Me"

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Echoes of Resilience with Jess Jacoi on Music Saved Me"

Podcast: takin' a walk – Music History On Foot
Host: Lynne Hoffman (guest-hosting on "Music Saved Me")
Guest: Jess Jacoi, Nashville-based singer-songwriter
Date: September 10, 2025
Duration: ~52 minutes (content summarized, advertisements omitted)

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Overview

This episode features an in-depth and heartfelt conversation with Jess Jacoi, an acclaimed Nashville singer-songwriter celebrated for her emotionally-rich, cinematic folk music. The discussion centers on music as a tool for healing, resilience in the face of personal struggle, the power of vulnerability on and offstage, and the realities of pursuing a creative life in the modern world. Jess shares personal stories of loss and recovery, the hopes embedded in her songwriting, and her perspective on navigating today’s challenging music industry.

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Main Topics & Key Insights

The Roots of Self-Doubt and the Importance of Support

• Self-Doubt as a Common Struggle ([01:10]–[02:32])
  Jess and Lynne agree that self-doubt is often more self-imposed than a reaction to outside negativity.

  "I have stood in my way more times than not. That’s just the honest truth."
  — Jess Jacoi ([01:33])

• Value of Support Systems
  Jess credits her mother as her foundation and "roots in the earth," underscoring the necessity of surrounding oneself with uplifting people.

Jess’s Musical Beginnings: Influence of Family and Country Icons

• Early Musical Inspirations ([07:12]–[08:43])
  Jess recalls singing as a child and stories from her mother, such as having movie soundtracks played to her before birth.
  • Key artists: Shania Twain’s "Up!", Alan Jackson’s "Drive," and Chris Daughtry.

  “My dad and I were super close growing up…and every day on the way to school, that was kind of our soundtrack.”
  — Jess Jacoi ([08:15])

Music’s Healing Power: Defining Moments

• Realizing Music’s Transformative Ability ([09:03])
  Jess describes a profound moment when a listener expressed how her song "Hope, Such a Long Way" moved her to tears at Porch Fest in Kentucky.

  “She’s like, ‘I didn’t know I needed to hear that song, but I needed to hear that song’ … this is not just for me.”
  — Jess Jacoi ([09:13])

• Porch Fest Explained ([11:04]–[12:15])
  Porch Fests, community-based music gatherings, foster connections between artists, hosts, and listeners.

Music as Solace in Grief and Transition

• Personal Loss and Emotional Resilience ([13:12]–[16:42])
  Jess lost her father to cancer at 19, a swift and traumatic experience that galvanized her move to Nashville and her creative path.
  • She leaned on songs like "Come Thou Fount" (King’s Kaleidoscope), "Oh God" (Citizens), and "Tomorrow Will Be Kinder" (The Secret Sisters) for comfort in her darkest moments.

  “Those were probably the three songs that got me through. Most especially ‘Tomorrow Will Be Kinder.’ I still will probably weep… but it’s a good comfort song.”
  — Jess Jacoi ([15:37])

Songwriting: Vulnerability, Abstraction, and Impact

• Walking the Line of Vulnerability ([17:16]–[18:28])
  Jess acknowledges the nuanced balance between being raw and leaving enough abstraction to allow listeners to bring their own meaning.

  "If you keep it real... I tried to have those raw moments but keep it abstract enough that people could find their own meaning in those lyrics."
  — Jess Jacoi ([18:14])

• Artistry vs. Commercial Pressure
  Drawing from influences like Jason Isbell and Gregory Alan Isakov, Jess strives for honest expression—often focused more on artistic process than outside judgment.

Recurring Themes: Hope, Silver Linings, and Serendipity

• Core Lyric Motifs ([27:05]–[29:12])
  Hope and silver linings recur throughout her discography ("Silver Linings," "Let There Be No Despair," "Cul de sac Kid"), with an intentional drive to leave listeners with optimism, not just catharsis.

  "If I’m going to punch you in the gut, I should give you a hug afterwards."
  — Jess Jacoi ([27:48])

• Serendipity and the Value of Difficult Experiences
  Jess views hardships as essential to personal growth, often finding their meaning only in hindsight.

Fan Relationships and Inspiration

• How Fans Shape Creativity ([30:12]–[31:36])
  Interactions and conversations—sometimes with fans across the globe—inspire lyrics and themes. Songs may amalgamate various lived conversations and experiences.

  “A lot of my songs… are amalgamations of different conversations I've had or things that happen in my day.”
  — Jess Jacoi ([30:29])

Navigating the Modern Industry: Social Media and Self-Worth

• Industry Pressures and Social Metrics ([34:08]–[38:13])
  Jess candidly discusses the anxiety fostered by social media metrics, the pressure for followers and streams, and the tradeoff between artistic integrity and algorithmic visibility.

  "It seems to be creating a roadblock for me to advance in the industry. ... At the end of the day, those 3,200 people who follow you, they’re real people. They are people you have met along the way."
  — Jess Jacoi ([36:54])

Music as Healing, Connection, and Authenticity

• Why Music Heals ([42:42]–[43:53])
  Music’s healing comes from its multifaceted nature—sometimes the lyrics, sometimes the melody, sometimes the person themselves.

  "I think it can be everything and only one thing, you know, all of those things in one thing."
  — Jess Jacoi ([42:50])

• The Call for More Human Connection
  Both host and guest stress the importance of slowing down, stepping away from devices, and seeking authentic interactions through art and conversation.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Self-Doubt:
  “I have stood in my way more times than not.” – Jess Jacoi ([01:33])
• On Fan Encounters:
  “This is not just for me...I always say like, I'm a steward of these songs...finding people along the way who really resonate with them, I was like, wow, maybe that was written for you.” – Jess Jacoi ([09:13])
• On Grief:
  “I just played those three songs, like, over and over and over in my headphones… Those were probably the three songs that got me through.” – Jess Jacoi ([15:37])
• On Themes in Her Work:
  “If I’m going to punch you in the gut, I should give you a hug afterwards.” – Jess Jacoi ([27:48])
• On Social Media Pressures:
  “It seems to be creating a roadblock for me to advance in the industry. ... At the end of the day, those 3,200 people who follow you on Instagram, they’re real people.” – Jess Jacoi ([36:54])

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Key Timestamps

• [01:10] – Discussion on self-doubt and personal motivation
• [07:12] – Musical beginnings and childhood influences
• [09:03] – The healing power of music: porch fest revelation
• [13:12] – Story of Jess’s father, moving to Nashville, and music as solace
• [17:16] – Vulnerability in songwriting
• [27:05] – Recurring themes: hope and silver linings
• [34:08] – Social media anxiety and industry expectations
• [42:42] – The question: what makes music healing?
• [47:27] – Music to change a mood: Don Williams’ "I’m Just a Country Boy"
• [47:46] – Life soundtrack title: "Just try it (don’t be scared)"

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Closing Thoughts

Jess Jacoi’s journey highlights the healing role of music in overcoming pain, loss, and self-doubt. Her grounded approach to songwriting champions honesty and resilience, advocating for creative authenticity in an industry often weighed down by numbers and trends. Through candid stories, tangible advice, and memorable moments, Jess reminds listeners of the universal threads of hope and connection that music can provide.

Final Takeaway:

“Just try it. Don’t be scared. … Keep doing you, and try to be happy along the way.”
— Jess Jacoi ([47:46], [33:43])

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For more, listen to Jess Jacoi’s music and follow her journey for further reflections on hope, healing, and authenticity in the creative life.

Transcript

[Lynne Hoffman]

Welcome to another episode of the Music Save Me podcast where the transformative power of music takes center stage. Today I am. Well, let's first tell you. I'm Lynne Hoffman and today my guest is Nashville based, acclaimed singer songwriter Jess Jacoi. Did I say that right?

[Jess Jacoi]

Perfect. Nailed it.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Okay, good. Jess creates music for those navigating life's in between spaces. I just love that. Blending cinematic storytelling with folk, rooted introspection. And it's shaped by over a decade of loss, heartache and self doubt. Now, Jess's latest project has been making waves for its raw honesty and emotional depth. And it gives listeners really, a front row seat to the healing process through melody and words. Whether it's her new album, Cul de sac Kid, or her new single of the same name, Jess is proving that music isn't just a soundtrack, it is a lifeline. Get ready for a glimpse into her creative spark, how she fights against self doubt, and the way her newest work is helping fans find hope in unexpected places. Jess Jacoi, welcome to Music Saved Me. It is so nice to meet you.

[Jess Jacoi]

Oh, thank you. And likewise.

[Lynne Hoffman]

You know, the thing that popped out to me in that intro for you was the word self doubt. And before we really get started, I feel like that is one of the biggest issues that holds people back. I feel like we all deal with self doubt and it's that kind of thing that keeps getting in the way of our own success. Yeah, you know, you come up with excuses and, you know, we do it to ourselves a lot, don't we?

[Jess Jacoi]

I think more so probably than the world does it to us in a sense. I mean, I know there's going to be naysayers out there and people who say like, oh, you should probably get a real job, you know, that kind of thing. But I think at least I can only speak for myself. I have stood in my way more times than not. You know, that's just the honest truth. And, and I'm very, very blessed to have people around me especially, you know, shout out to my mom, who's my best friend, you know, she is really like my foundation and my roots in the earth to stay tethered and grounded and just say, hey, you know what, it's cool. You got this, you know, and she does not hesitate to do that at any chance. So, you know, it's, it's definitely a matter of who, who you get to be surrounded by or who you surround yourself with. But yeah, it's, it's there like that self doubt is, it's always there. I think at least it can be. It's always kind of something you're up against.

[Lynne Hoffman]

But you, thanks to mom. Shout out to mom, like you said, that's. It's huge. And like you said about people surrounding you, you know, there are people that come into your life that you don't even realize are there to help you through things. So you have to sort of figure that out. And if you're fortunate enough to figure that out, then you move forward. Like, for example, your story, which is. Is pretty amazing.

[Jess Jacoi]

Oh, thank you. Yeah. No, I mean, it's. It's. I think even in, you know, there's music life, and then I think for a lot of us, there's maybe the day, day job life or outside life. And even in that, I'm finding, I think the older I get, you know, oh, this thing happened at work, and this kind of was something I'm carrying with me in my life as a life lesson of how I can react going forward or how I can handle that situation going forward. So I think it comes with age and kind of learning to settle in and settle down a little bit in life. And I think that's kind of helped me at least is. It's not perfect, but, you know, I feel like I'm heading in the right direction.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Yes. That is the whole premise of this podcast is to share stories like that so other people can see that we're more alike than we're different and we can all plow through life together. I always look at it as like a rising tide lifts all boats. So if everybody helps everybody, which is kind of a really big wish, it's like world peace, but we all lift each other up. All right, we gotta take a quick break and pay some bills, but when we come back, I want to ask Jess what Alan Jackson and Shania Twain had to do with the beginning of her career. But we'll be right back after this. Stick around. It's music saved me.

[Jess Jacoi]

This is an I Heart podcast.

[Joy Hardin Bradford]

Joy Hardin Bradford, host of the Therapy for Black Girls podcast. I know how overwhelming it can feel if flying makes you anxious. In session 418 of the Therapy for Black Girls podcast, Dr. Angela Neil Barnett and I discuss flight anxiety.

[Lynne Hoffman]

What is not normal is to allow.

[Jess Jacoi]

It to prevent you from doing the.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Things that you want to do, the.

[Jess Jacoi]

Things that you were meant to do.

[Joy Hardin Bradford]

Listen to Therapy for Black Girls on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Jenica Lopez]

Hi, I'm Jenica Lopez, and in the new season of the Over Comfort podcast, I'm even more honest, more vulnerable, and more real than ever. Am I ready to enter this new part of my life? Like, am I ready to be in a relationship? Am I ready to have kids and to really just devote myself and my time? Join me for conversations about healing and growth, all from one of my favorite spirits faces the kitchen. Listen to the new season of the Overcomer podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Lynne Hoffman]

I'm Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman, host of the Psychology Podcast.

[Jess Jacoi]

Here's a clip from an upcoming conversation.

[Lynne Hoffman]

About how to be a better you. When you think about emotion regulation, you're not going to choose an adaptive strategy which is more effortful to use unless you think there's a good outcome. Avoidance is easier. Ignoring is easier. Denial is easier. Complex problem solving takes effort. Listen to the Psychology podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. From tips for healthy living to the latest medical breakthroughs, WebMD's Health Discovered podcast keeps you up to date on today's most important health issues. Through in depth conversations with experts from across the healthcare community, WebMD reveals how today's health news will impact your life tomorrow. It's not that people don't know that.

[Jess Jacoi]

Exercise is healthy, it's just that people don't know why it's healthy. And we're struggling to try to help people help themselves and each other.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Listen to WebMD Health discovered on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Honey German]

Hi, it's Honey German, and I'm back with season two of my podcast. Gracias. Come again. We got you. When it comes to the latest in music and entertainment, with interviews with some of your favorite Latin artists and celebrities, you didn't have to audition.

[Jess Jacoi]

No, I didn't audition. I haven't auditioned in, like, over 25 years.

[Honey German]

Oh, wow, that's a real G talk right there.

[Jess Jacoi]

Oh, yeah.

[Honey German]

We'll talk about all that's viral and trending with a little bit of Cheeseman and a whole lot of laughs. And of course, the great Bibras you've come to expect. Listen to the new season of Gracias. Come Again on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcast.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Music saved me. All right, well, we are back with Jess Jaqu. Let's talk about your musical journey and what first drew you creating music. And like I said before the break, did Alan Jackson and Shania Twain have anything to do with it?

[Jess Jacoi]

You know, I think in some way, the. The kind of foundation story for me is I've always been a singer. I've always sang since I was, you know, 2 years old, bringing home a baby bumblebee. You know, my first song, my mom, the story she likes to tell is when she was pregnant with me, her and my dad would go fishing, and she would sit for hours with just headphones over her belly playing the Dances with Wolves soundtrack. And I joke, and I'm like, that's probably why I love listening to, like, movie scores and instrumental music now. But I think that's kind of what was the earworm into the introduction for music. Because apart from some distant cousins, like, I'm kind of the only musically, you know, leaning person in my family in this generation. I mean, the younger generations are starting to pick it up, which is cool, but it just kind of came out of nowhere. But I've always been a singer. But I think fundamentally, my dad and I were super close growing up, and he would drive me to school every morning, and I would make him listen faithfully to. For a while. It was the up record by Shania Twain. It was like a double record because it was like a red CD and a green cd and Alan Jackson's Drive for Daddy Jean, like, that record. And every Day on the Way to School, that was kind of our soundtrack. And as I got older, I remember being the Chris Daughtry record. But those are kind of like the three that really stand out in the memory. But, you know, it's kind of a little backwards. But country music, I think, definitely came from my dad from a younger age.

[Lynne Hoffman]

That's so cool that you threw a little daughtery in there. I mean.

[Jess Jacoi]

Oh, we listen to all kinds of kinds.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Got to give him a little love. I haven't heard his name in a while. It was refreshing to hear that from you. Was there a particular moment in your life just when you realized that music had the power to heal people and literally transform your life?

[Jess Jacoi]

You know, I think there's been moments before, but one moment that comes to mind almost immediately where it kind of sank in is not honestly that long ago. It was a few years back. I was playing a porch fest up in Owensboro, Kentucky, and I have one of my. My first songs on my record. Such a Long Way, is called Hope. Such a Long Way. And I had played that song, and I think it might have been the last song I played in the set. So I wrapped up, and somebody, this young woman came up to me just, like, tears. She's like, I Didn't know I needed to hear that song, but I needed to hear that song, you know, and it was like, kind of gives me like goosebumps thinking about it. Just because it was like, wow, this is not just for me, you know, I think I'm. I always say, like, I'm a steward of these songs and like, I'm just here to kind of be the voice of them and pass them along. And, you know, they're not always my stories of, like, my personal experiences tip to toe. So finding people along the way who really resonate with them. I was like, wow, I think maybe that was written for you, you know, and serendipitous that we're getting to meet in person. So I think that was kind of a big moment for me. That is the first thing that comes to mind is seeing her. And she wasn't sad, but it was just moved, you know, in a way that moved me.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Yeah, she did. You touched her and she wasn't even expecting it. That's even more.

[Jess Jacoi]

Oh, the song, at least.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Amazing. First of all, Porch Fest, you mentioned in that. I had to write it down. I had never heard of this before, but we have it here in the Northeast as well, because I've been invited the last couple of years. Yeah, it is the coolest thing ever. So if anyone listening hears about a porch fest coming to a town near, you go, it is so fun. Can you kind of explain what that's like?

[Jess Jacoi]

Yeah, it's so cool. My real experience has been in Owensboro, Kentucky. So shout out. And what's so cool is you kind of build. I don't want to say rapport because it's not like a hoity toity thing, but like, I played the first year on Mr. Floyd Tapp's porch. The Tapp family was just so kind to me. And it's so funny because they're sitting on their porch and then you've got people out in their yard and people passing by and, you know, you look down the street, it's usually like a historic street and people are just gathered at these different porches. Music is going on. It's really cool. And like listening to a bunch of radio stations at once. And what was so cool is like, I played the next year and the Tap family had requested me to come back to their porch, you know, so it was like, wow, that is so cool. Like just this kind of familial esque bond that that tends to come from those kinds of things from being, you know, just like a little town event. That some of them are huge. I would argue that Owensboro is. Is pretty sizable. But I've also played in like Hendersonville, Tennessee and they're all over. It's crazy.

[Lynne Hoffman]

There are, there's one in Blackrock, Connecticut.

[Jess Jacoi]

Cool.

[Lynne Hoffman]

I keep hearing a lot about that. Big, big, big. So if you're ever in the northeast, you should check that out.

[Jess Jacoi]

All of them are free. So you know what can you ask for more like free music and hanging out in a town and a cool.

[Lynne Hoffman]

And a historic street. It's very cool. It reminds me of a radio station I used to work for in Boston. And every year we would do a free concert for. For the listeners and the city. And it was two days of non stop main stage, second stage, you know, it was amazing and it was all free.

[Jess Jacoi]

That's awesome.

[Lynne Hoffman]

I don't think anyone does that anymore except Porch Fest now, man.

[Jess Jacoi]

Yeah, I don't know. And there's so much going on in Nashville all the time, but not. I can't think of anything where they like shut the town down or you know, sometimes there will be pop up concerts on Broadway and then everybody's like the traffic.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Jess Jacoi]

You know, it's a give and take.

[Lynne Hoffman]

It is. Can I get a little serious with you for a minute and ask you if you can recall a time when music directly helped you through a difficult period? I know that you sort of picked up and left the west side of the country and moved all the way east to Nashville. Did that have anything to do with it?

[Jess Jacoi]

Not in the sense of like the loss. I mean, my, my dad passed away when I was 19 from lung cancer. And that was a pretty tumultuous time. Just from the time he was diagnosed to the time we lost him was about six months. So it was all pretty fast and very, very unexpected. So I wasn't. In a sense, I think I was. And I wasn't kind of running away from that. I had always wanted to live in Nashville. My grandparents lived in Kentucky and we would go and see them and they're about two hours from Nashville. So at first it was go see the grandparents and make a stop in Nashville. And then over the years it was go to Nashville and then make sure to go see grandma and grandpa. And it was always with this building dream that Music City was where I would end up. And God's honest truth, like my dad passing gave me like a bigger reason to go. And honestly, like it was a bunch of doors opening at once of. I got accepted into Belmont University, maybe a Year later, not even a year later. So I had a reason to move as well, to go study songwriting there in Nashville. But as for music at that time, I do remember, you know, being in the hospital with him, and there was a few songs that I would just play on repeat. One was Come Thou Fount by King's Kaleidoscope. That version. Another one was oh, God by Citizens, and there was, like, a YouTube version I had found that was maybe not the recorded version. So it's kind of like leaning on my faith a whole lot. And then the other one was Tomorrow Will Be kinder by the Secret Sisters. Just played, like. I remember one night being kind of on the last nights and just playing those three songs, like, over and over and over in my headphones, stretch out on, you know, three chairs put together for a bed. Yeah, it was. Those were probably the three songs that got me through. Most especially Tomorrow Will Be kinder, like that song, I still Will probably weep. I don't. I don't listen to it as much just because I think it will get me choked up, but it's one of those songs that I think I needed, and. And I think it's a good comfort song.

[Lynne Hoffman]

I. I hear you getting a little choked up now, even just recalling the story. And I just want to let you know that the exact same thing happened to me back in 2011, six months from diagnosis, and I sat with him like you, and it's hard not to.

[Jess Jacoi]

Yeah. It's.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Get that little feeling of, you know.

[Jess Jacoi]

You know. Yeah.

[Lynne Hoffman]

So I totally. And. And I'm. I'm going to guess there's a lot of people listening right now that can relate to that, so.

[Jess Jacoi]

Too many.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Yeah, too many. And it. It's one of the things that I don't think that we're ever prepared for in life, especially when it's a parent or a sibling, you know, very close. Yeah, it's hard.

[Jess Jacoi]

And it was. It was pretty shocking. But, you know, God is good no matter what. And I don't know where people stand on their faith, but this is where I stand. And God is good.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Yep. And you have to. And absolutely. When you know that there's something larger than us, there's sort of a comfort level in that for whatever it is to you, so. I totally agree with you. Gosh, I didn't mean to make you feel like that. I just want to lighten it up a little. Let me ask you, what role does vulnerability play in your music, not just for yourself, but for your fans? How. How much do you have to be open.

[Jess Jacoi]

I think. I think there's a line. I mean, obviously, you don't want to. You don't want to spill all your. You know, all your stuff in a song. But I think I'm coming to find there's a balance in that if you keep it real. There's so many, especially with, like, budding technologies of AI and all this and that, where. In Instagram and filters and just all of that, where it's like you don't really know what's real, real, you know, anymore. It's. It's getting harder and harder to tell. I think if you are able to hone into maybe those little details or the harder moments, I think it's necessary. But also, I've kind of found, like, in my past records, those were pretty vulnerable, and I tried My. My intention was to, like, have those raw moments, but keep it abstract enough that people could find their own meaning in those lyrics.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Yeah.

[Jess Jacoi]

But sometimes, you know, it can get lost, too, and that's fair. So I think there is definitely a line, but I don't necessarily know that. I always know where it's at. Does that make sense?

[Lynne Hoffman]

That's totally fair. And nor should you. I mean, really, if that were the case, then everyone would write hit songs. Yeah, everyone would know what everyone was thinking, and they would be able to gear it towards them. I think there's something special and very scary at the same time when you're writing a song, for instance, like your own personal struggles, when you're really honing in on something that really is close to you and your emotions through those songwriting, through that songwriting. I should say that you have to let it go out there into the world to be judged. And I would imagine that, obviously, it's an amazing feeling when you've. Like, that woman. You described how she didn't even realize that you did this song. And it spoke to her like it was a personal thing directed right at her. There's something about letting it go. How do you deal with just making something art and then putting it out there to be judged? There's definitely a. You have to have a strong will to be able to do that.

[Jess Jacoi]

Yeah. You know, I think for a long time, I kind of have an interesting, you know, history in the sense that I. I went to school and. And got a degree in songwriting and, like, learned how to commercial songwrite. But also I was. You know, I wanted to be this abstract artist and, like, two artists that I was really listening to a lot at the time was Jason isbell and Gregory Allen Isakoff, who still love those artists. I just saw Gregory Allen Isakoff Night 4, last at Red Rocks. You know, like, he's still my favorite, but very. You know, he's very abstract and poetic in his lyricism, and Isbel has that ability somehow. He's honed in a way to make it conversational, too, which I. That was what I was wanting to do in my lyrics, so I kind of focused more on that and not so much of how it would be received. And it wasn't until it was released. Listening back now, I'm like, yeah, that was probably a little out there. That was. That probably didn't make sense to anybody because this is something that is so a part of me songwriting. I don't necessarily think how it's going to be received or judged is at the forefront of my mind. It's mostly like, well, I've been playing this song out a lot since I wrote it, and I really like it, so it's gonna go on a record. And, hey, it's kind of in the same vein as this other song I've been working on, and this one and this one. So let's just put them all on one record and, you know, put that out there. It's not until you get to, like, hiring the publicist or, you know, kind of doing all the things that you start to go, oh, I hope people like this. I hope this doesn't flop. And at the same time, it's like at the back of your mind, you kind of have to remember, like, at least you're doing it, you know, at least you're offering people something to listen to. Granted, there's a lot of us out there doing that, but, you know, here's how you saw the world in this moment, and here's what you had to say about it, you know?

[Lynne Hoffman]

Yeah. Yeah, definitely. Well, I mean, it. Very strong will to be able to do that. Like I said, it's a. Like you said, when you get all the people involved.

[Jess Jacoi]

Yeah.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Outside of the actual process of making the song, that's where things start to get questionable. And you're like, wait a minute. These people are in control of my image and my life. And.

[Jess Jacoi]

Yeah. We'll be right back with more of the music Save Me podcast. I had this, like, overwhelming sensation that I had call her right then. And I just hit call, said, you know, hey, I'm Jacob Schick. I'm the CEO of One Tribe Foundation. And I just wanted to call and let her know there's a lot of people battling some of the very same things you're battling. And there is help out there. The Good Stuff Podcast Season two takes a deep look into One Tribe Foundation, a non profit fighting suicide in the veteran community. September is National Suicide Prevention Month, so join hosts Jacob and Ashley Schick as they bring you to the first front lines of One Tribe's mission. I was married to a combat army veteran and he actually took his own life to suicide. One Tribe saved my life twice. There's a lot of love that flows.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Through this place and it's sincere now.

[Jess Jacoi]

It's a personal mission. Don't have to go to any more funerals.

[Lynne Hoffman]

You know.

[Jess Jacoi]

I got blown up on a react mission. I ended up having amputation below the knee of my right leg and a traumatic brain injury because I landed on my head. Welcome to season two of the Good Stuff. Listen to the Good Stuff podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Danny Shapiro]

Your entire identity has been fabricated. Your beloved brother goes missing without a trace. You discover the depths of your mother's illness, the way it has echoed and reverberated throughout your life, impacting your very legacy. Hi, I'm Danny Shapiro and these are just a few of the profound and powerful stories I'll be mining on our 12th season of Family Secrets. With over 37 million downloads, we continue to be moved and inspired by our guests and their courageously told stories. I can't wait to share 10 powerful new episodes with you. Stories of tangled up identities, concealed truths, and the way in which family secrets almost always need to be told. I hope you'll join me and my extraordinary guests for this new season of Family Secrets. Listen to Family Secrets Season 12 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jenica Lopez]

Hi, I'm Jenica Lopez and in the new season of the Overcomer podcast, I'm taking you on an exciting journey of self reflection. Am I ready to enter this new part of my life? Like, am I ready to be in a relationship? Am I ready to have kids and to really, really just devote myself and my time? I wanted to be successful on my own, not just because of who my mom is. Like, I felt like I needed to be better or work twice as hard as she did. Join me for conversations about healing and growth. Life is freaking hard and growth doesn't happen in comfort. It happens in motion, even when you're hurting. All from one of my favorite spaces, the kitchen. Honestly, these are going to come out so freaking amazing. Be a part of my new chapter and listen to the new season of the Overcome for Podcast as part of the Michael Tura Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Honey German]

Hola, it's Honey German and my podcast, Gracias Come Again is back. This season we're going even deeper into the world of music and entertainment with raw and honest conversations with some of your favorite Latin artists and celebrities. You didn't have to audition?

[Jess Jacoi]

No, I didn't audition. I haven't auditioned in, like, over 25 years.

[Honey German]

Oh, wow. That's a real G talk right there.

[Jess Jacoi]

Oh, yeah.

[Honey German]

We've got some of the biggest actors, musicians, content creators and culture shifters sharing their real stories of failure and success. You were destined to be a star. We talk all about what's viral and trending with a little bit of Cheeseman, a lot of laughs, and those amazing vivas you've come to expect. And of course, we'll explore deeper topics dealing with identity struggles and all the issues affecting our Latin community. You feel like you get a little whitewashed because you have to do the code switching.

[Lynne Hoffman]

I won't say whitewashed because at the.

[Jess Jacoi]

End of the day, you know, I'm me. Yeah, but the whole pretending and coat, you know, it takes a toll on you.

[Honey German]

Listen to the new season of grasses. Come again as part of Michael Tura Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Joy Hardin Bradford]

Hey, sis, what if I could promise you you never had to listen to a condescending finance bro tell you how to manage your money again? Welcome to Brown Ambition. This is the hard part when you pay down those credit cards. If you haven't gotten to the bottom of why you were racking up credit or turning to credit cards, you may just recreate the same problem. A year from now when you do feel like you are bleeding from these high interest rates, I would start shopping for a debt consolidation loan, starting with your local credit union. Shopping around online looking for some online lenders because they tend to have fewer fees and be more affordable. Listen, I am not here to judge. It is so expensive in these streets. I 100% can see how in just a few months you can have this much credit card debt. And it weighs on you. It's really easy to just like stick.

[Jess Jacoi]

Your head in the sand.

[Joy Hardin Bradford]

It's nice and dark in the sand. Even if it's scary, it's not going to go away just because you're avoiding it. And in fact, it may get even Worse. For more judgment free money advice, listen to Brown ambition on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jess Jacoi]

Welcome back to the Music Saved Me podcast.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Are there any themes or topics that you find yourself sort of repeatedly drawn to in terms of writing?

[Jess Jacoi]

Absolutely. Hope is a big one. Hope was a common thread in my first record, Silver Linings, which I think is essentially synonymous. In my second record, Let There Be no Despair of, like, my goal of writing music, generally speaking. I've tried to find a balance in that too, but, like, I've kind of always leaned into, like, if I'm going to punch you in the gut, I should give you a hug afterwards and, you know, write a gut puncher of a song. But also, like, don't make it such a downer that there's no nothing to look forward to at the end. And even with the story songs on this new record, I've tried to include that thematically because what is life if you don't have something to look forward to and hope, you know, so even in the bad, there's gonna be good. Kind of something I've taken to saying is, like, I'm really a big fan of, like, the theme of silver linings. You know, it's like you're gonna have the great clouds, but the sun is up there somewhere. But you got to work for it, you know, and you got to. You got to look for it. So I would say those are one to two themes that I keep coming back on repeatedly and will probably keep coming back on.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Yeah, please do, because I don't think you can do that too much. I think the more that you let people know through music or even just words, that obstacles are opportunities in disguise.

[Jess Jacoi]

Yeah.

[Lynne Hoffman]

And you just, you. You have to look for those silver linings because they'll explain everything.

[Jess Jacoi]

Yeah. And even if you find, you know, one word I've been kind of coming back to is Serendipitous, which I really love is like, even if you're going through, like, this tough time and everything seems like it's going to pot, you know, you come out of it on the other end and you go, I needed that. Like, I. I had a good takeaway from that experience. Even if it's hard to find on the other end, like, you're gonna find it eventually. Even if it's years down the road and, you know, that's life. That's. It's all learning so well.

[Lynne Hoffman]

It's really. It's an amazing threefold. You know, it helps you I'm guessing when you're writing and helps people listening to have hope. And it's just a good thing to put out there in general, doing good, because then, you know, when you lay down at night and put your head on the pillow, you know that you've done good, you've done the best you can, and you've put good things out into the universe.

[Jess Jacoi]

And, yeah, that's all I want. And I'm finding a new strength in my faith, too. And so one thing I keep, you know, a little prayer. And the church I work at has kind of taught me this is, you know, lord, when they see me, let them see you. And that's all I want. And everything else aside, the social media, the image, the branding, this, that, and the other, like, at the heart of everything, let there be music that speaks well to life. So, like I said, it's all learning. We're not perfect, but, you know, we're giving it our best college go.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Yes, but I think that's just such a beautiful sentiment. How does your connection with fans influence your creative direction? I mean, obviously you want to give them hope and help them. Is there any influence on your writing once you meet people, talk to them, or.

[Jess Jacoi]

Yes and no. I mean, a lot of my songs are written. They're kind of amalgamations of different conversations I've had or things that happen in my day. So, yes, in the sense that, you know, we could be talking, like, chatting about something. I've got, for instance, some really awesome fans over in the Netherlands who have just been so supportive since record one. And, you know, maybe it's a conversation I had with them or a sentiment from a conversation that, you know, it's like, yeah, let's. Let's kind of lean into that. But so often songs, for me, they. They kind of tend to pop out of nowhere. You know, I'll be thinking about something or thoughts driving. I have a lot of driving thoughts. And so the songs will kind of start from there. And then it's almost like it's this. Something else takes over, and you just start thinking of rhymes and without getting too into the weeds of it. You know, it's like, next thing you know, you're like, what? We have something here. You know, let's kind of suss this out and figure out what we're talking about. And then you can find on the review little hints of like, oh, yeah, we were just talking about that the other day. So. Yes, yes.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Except nowadays it's a little hard because we have the AI, which you Think is like reading your mind or something, because you have a thought, and next thing you know, someone calls you or you say a name of a friend, and next thing you know, you get a text from someone. It's. It's a really. It's getting more difficult to separate.

[Jess Jacoi]

Yeah. It's becoming a slippery slope, especially in the creative world, of what's acceptable and what's not.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Yeah.

[Jess Jacoi]

I don't. I don't know. I'm. I don't know where I stand on it. I know a lot of people are, like, staunchly against it. I don't think you should use it personally. This is soapbox, but, like, you know, write your own lyrics, that kind of thing. If you're not a musician, you know, instrumentally, like if you need it to help you kind of create a track to get your point across. Okay. But I have this fear that I'm gonna start using it so much for just, like, little things that I'm gonna forget how to think critically for myself. So we're trying to, you know, find a balance in that, and I'll use it more as, like, a search engine these days. But it's funny because I just saw a thing recently where, like, one of the AI guys was like, people rely on this a little too much. Like, it's gonna be wrong and it's gonna lie to you or, you know, this, that, and the other.

[Lynne Hoffman]

So, yeah, it's not Saturday morning cartoons anymore that your parents go, you know that's not real. Right? They're cartoons. You're like, what the hell? Of course I know it's a car, but this is a little. Yeah.

[Jess Jacoi]

And it's crazy how fast it's getting there.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Yeah.

[Jess Jacoi]

You know, like, we've seen movies on this and stuff, and here it is kind of coming to fruition, and we're like, we're okay with it. I'm like, okay.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Yeah. Well, you know what, though? It's why we're gonna need artists like yourself more than ever, because there's going to be a whole new set of situations that people are going to relate to that we're going to, that you're going to be singing about. I predict this, and I'm not a guy.

[Jess Jacoi]

You're. We'll see. We're just going to see. That's all. We'll take a day by day. And I think at the end of the day, keep doing you. You know, that's. What I'm going to do, is keep doing me and, you know, trying to be happy along the way.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Yeah, it's good advice. It really is. And I know a lot of people are thinking about it these days, so, you know, it's good to hear from someone who is in the business talking about their thoughts. And I agree with you 100%. What advice would you give to others who may be struggling though with say, mental health and issues that are looking to hope through creativity? What kind of advice would you give?

[Jess Jacoi]

I think this is going to be a long winded response, so bear with me. I think a lot of my personal mental exhaustion anxiety at XYZ has come from the social aspect and the pressure and the reliance put on that. You know, I think it's so wonderful that we have the opportunity to connect with people from all over the world and get to. The fact that there are people in the Netherlands who like my music is insane to me. But I think the emphasis being placed on the importance of those numbers and streams and view counts in relation to the caliber of art that you're creating and putting out there is becoming a little bit off kilter in my personal opinion. You know, you see all these, these videos, real or not, of like, people getting turned down by record labels on the phone because they need at least 10,000 followers or I just saw a video, I joked to my mom, I was like, well, I guess I'm not getting signed by a booking agent because they want this, you know, and it's like, well, I'm playing breweries and living my best life, you know, this, that and the other kind of keeping it low key. Does that impact the kind of music I'm creating? I don't think so. But because of that, it seems to be creating a roadblock for me to advance in the industry. And so that is a stressor, you know, like, that will cause me anxiety. And I go back and forth of just like trying to find that balance of I want to move up in the world and I want to advance and grow and share my music with more and more people. But at the rate I'm going, man, how is the industry gonna care? And I just think, and. And one thing I had been told over and over again is like a. My mom again. My mom, she's like, who made up all these rules? Who says you can't do this, this and this? And I'm like, well, it's best practice. And she's like, well, that's silly, you know, figure out for yourself. And she has always said since college, filter in what you need and filter out what you don't. And I try really, really hard. And I have to work really, really hard to remember that, because it is so easy to get caught up in, like, oh, well, I only have this amount of followers. I only have this many, you know, monthly listeners on Spotify and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And it's like, okay, but at the end of the day, like, those 3,000, you know, 3,200 people who follow you on Instagram, they're real people. They are people you have met along the way from playing live music. You didn't pay for them. They are honest to goodness, salt of the earth people who have jumped on your bandwagon and like what you do. And if that doesn't mean anything, then that's a disrespect to them. So while you may not be where you want to be in the world, a, it's probably not where you're going to be forever, you know, even though it feels like it in the moment, B, you just gotta do what makes you happy. And that's something I struggled with for a long time over the last few years, was I was just not happy creating music. I was doing it because I wanted to move up in the industry, and I felt like no one was taking me seriously in the industry. And it was just like this toilet bowl of nonsense. You just gotta find a way to be happy in it. And at the end of the day, how you create music and how you present it online, like they're connected. But if you're thinking about how you're gonna film it first, as to, you know, what you're gonna write, I don't know. I just think there has to be a balance. And I think we have to remember that the Internet could go out tomorrow. Probably won't, but it could. And at the end of the day, you're still a real human making music. And people need music in their lives, you know, so do with that what you will. But there. There has to be a balance in there.

[Lynne Hoffman]

I think it's incredible advice, and I had no idea there was a threshold to be represented. I mean, it's gone that far, and.

[Jess Jacoi]

I'm sure somebody can clap back and go, well, that's not true. That's not true. Okay, great. You know, I'm looking to play, you know, listening rooms and theaters. Nothing wrong with the breweries I'm playing, but if y' all want to help me out there, that'd be great. Ticket sales stressed me out as an artist of this level, whereas, like, playing a brewery, like, I know I can meet honest to Goodness people and share music with them, and they're not getting super riled up and drunk. And I think breweries are, like, a sweet spot for. For artists to share their craft. And, yeah, I'd love to play, like, theaters and auditoriums one day. That's kind of my goal. There's some days it feels really far away, and that's okay. You know, it's all good.

[Lynne Hoffman]

No matter what, you're still smiling, which. Which says a lot. And that's a whole other minefield that was never there before that you have to now deal with. And. And that's just another part of that toilet bowl that you. Which I love.

[Jess Jacoi]

Toilet bowl of nonsense.

[Lynne Hoffman]

It is. Which is why I stay far away from it as much as possible. Thank you for that advice. It's really good advice. And how do you hope that your music is going to continue to be a source of light and healing for people?

[Jess Jacoi]

You know, for me, I just want to write songs that. And I hope people will understand. Like, I just want to be real. A phrase I've said for a long time is analog in a digital world. And I just want people to know that for all of the putting on airs, if you will, that comes with this industry, there are honest to goodness people out there. Well, I don't want to fluff myself up, but just honest people who put their pants on the same way and aren't shy to tell you that they do. And we're out here, we're making music. We have stuff to say. We watch the world going on around us. We listen to and we write it down, and, you know, we sing about it, and we have stories to tell. Even if they're not my exact story from start to finish of, like, this happened to me last Tuesday. I think that's really important because there's so much show to the business that sometimes you wonder is like, man, is there. Is there room for artists like me who aren't flashy, aren't trying to make headlines with something outrageous? And sometimes it feels like no. But I just want people to know, like, we're out here and we're making music and we have stuff to share with you. And if we can get everyone back to a culture of where we're willing to slow down just a little bit, I think we can find ourselves in a really good spot in a lot of ways. Mentally, physically, emotionally. I think we all just need to slow down because the industry, the world, like, everything is fast, fast, fast. You know, now it's like, what if you don't hook people in three seconds with your reel, like, you've lost them. They're gonna scroll about. Like, really three seconds? It's insane. So I just want people to know, like, it's okay to slow down. I. I'm trying to slow down too. You know, I'm not perfect, and I get caught up in it as well. But, yeah, there's. We gotta make room for that. We're gonna be so much happier and fulfilled as a society. I think if we just find that balance a little bit more.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Yeah, I think you're. You're right. And I think it's coming. I mean, I did hear recently something about schools now starting to realize, gee, you think maybe there shouldn't be phones distracting people so they can learn things? And the. And the kids are loving it. You know, they're finding after a few days that all the kids are like, wow, we're talking to our friends again. Instead of these silent hallways, which would blow our minds if we walk down them today.

[Jess Jacoi]

Yeah. Or like the kids who are going with. Through withdrawals of like, I need my phone. I need my phone.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Yeah.

[Jess Jacoi]

What a place. You know, somewhere along the way, the collective we has let that happen. And it's the same with the industry. We've let it get to this point so we can. We have just as much power to let it get back to the other point, you know, so it's all in how we choose to wield that power.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Yes, it's true. And when you have it, you do have a responsibility. And there's nothing worse than someone who has that responsibility witnessing those others that have that responsibility and squandering it. Yeah, there's nothing worse than that.

[Jess Jacoi]

Yeah.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Can you tell me what you think it is about music that is so healing? Is it the words? Is it the melody? Is it the person?

[Jess Jacoi]

I think it can be everything and only one thing, you know, all of those things in one thing. So certain songs that just, like, strike me to my core. I'm gonna go back to my favorite artist, Gregory Allen Isakoff, who his whole record, Evening Machines Shout Out. It's one of the best records I've ever heard in my life. Sonically. It's so well done. His voice is stunning. It's just velvet coming out of his mouth. And his words. It's like sometimes they're words that. They're. Like I said, they're kind of abstract. They're super poetic. But you'll hone in on one line and you're like, wow. I think it's. I Don't think it's one thing. I think it's all the things. And it's just different songs have that ability to strike you in different ways. So it could be the singer, it could be the line in the song, or the story of the song itself, or just the way the music came across. Like, if it. You know, as long as it's giving you goosebumps, it's good.

[Lynne Hoffman]

That is so true. All right, well, I want to keep you for another hour, but I know that you are on a press tour first. I want to give a shout out to your people because it brought you here.

[Jess Jacoi]

Yes.

[Lynne Hoffman]

So you're doing something right. Oh, man.

[Jess Jacoi]

You know. Can I tell you a funny story?

[Lynne Hoffman]

Yes, please.

[Jess Jacoi]

A real world story. So I have a day job. I'm a barista. And when I'm not, you know, I've toured more this year than I ever have in my entire life, and I've loved it. But one thing I do love about being a barista and where I work is that I get to know our regulars who come in and. So shout out to Mike with milestone. Mike would come in and become a regular, and we start chatting, and I'm like, finally, what do you do for work? Oh, I'm in the music industry. And. Oh, what does that mean? And he would tell me. And so we kind of started striking up these conversations and building a relationship through that. And finally I was just like, hey, I'm getting ready to put out this new record. Like, just listen to it. Let me know what you think. If it's something you guys would be interested in. You know, never with any intention of. Like, I used to say this when I worked at a record label, too. Like, I'm not here to, like, sneak in a back door. I just, you know, if we can. If I can share some music with you, and you like it, great. You know, and he ended up liking it and wanting to work together, and, you know, praise God, because that would have never come if I didn't have my day job. And I get down on having a day job sometimes. So it's all, like, cyclical.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Listen, I have a day job, too. I do voice work on the side and anything else that someone needs help with, even if it's not in the entertainment industry. So I'm. There's no doubt. I love it that you have a side hustle. And now it also explains your energy level. Something has to do with maybe coffee.

[Jess Jacoi]

You know, I've only had, like, three quarters of a cup this morning, so we're dead more afterwards. But, yeah, what's funny is one of the records or one of the songs on my new record coming out is called Above Ground. And that stemmed from, again, working the coffee job. And I usually work the opening shift, so I'm there at 6. We open at 6:30. And some of our first customers are like, older men who come in, like, doing Bible studies. And you get like two. Two sides of a coin with them is like, some of them are chipper and excited for the day, and some of them are not awake yet. Yeah, I'm. I always tell people, like, I'm two cups in by then, two and a half cups deep of coffee. Like, I'm ready to go. And then you go, hey, sir, how's it going? And you get this really gruff like, well, I'm above ground. You know, it's like, okay, great.

[Lynne Hoffman]

That's so. Hey, I will tell you, I worked at Dunkin Donuts when I was going to high school, so I know exactly what you're talking about. Because, you know, I would get stuff thrown at me, you know, like, why are you so happy? What's. What's going on with. You know, and then the cup of coffee and then they turn into a human.

[Jess Jacoi]

Let me be honest, when I rolled up to shout out to City Brew here in Bozeman, when I rolled up to City Brew, I was like, glasses on, PJ's on. I was like, I need a blah, blah, blah, blah. Please, like, not awake at all.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Bedhead. Good. Bed head going on. Yeah.

[Jess Jacoi]

Oh, yeah.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Oh, my God, Jess, it's been such a pleasure chatting with you. I have two quick rapid fire questions for you. What song do you put on when you need to shift your mood? And I suspect I may know this because you mentioned Gregory a couple of times. But if there's anyone else that pops up to your mind, ooh, I'm gonna.

[Jess Jacoi]

Throw you a curveball. Don Williams. I love Don Williams version of I'm Just a Country Boy. But any Don Williams song will turn my mood right around. I love Don Williams so much.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Awesome. And if your life were a soundtrack, oh, gosh. What would be the title track?

[Jess Jacoi]

Oh, this one's a hard one. And I'm getting nervous because it's rapid fire.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Okay, sorry.

[Jess Jacoi]

If I'm in Life as a soundtrack, just try it. You know, at the end of the day, you just gotta try it. So we'll say just try it. And parentheses, don't be scared. Don't be scared. Just try.

[Lynne Hoffman]

I love it. That's great. It's. It's a perfect, perfect answer and a perfect ending to what I consider to be a perfect podcast. Not. Not just because you're just amazing. And it was wonderful to get to share 45 minutes of your time.

[Jess Jacoi]

Oh, likewise. Thank you so much.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Thanks. And a glimpse into to your life. Again, I can't stress this, but there's just so much more that people have in common that they know, and if they would get off their devices and talk to each other, they would find that out.

[Jess Jacoi]

Yeah, yeah. I'm a big proponent of that. And as somebody who is, I sit there and I scroll and I'm like, why am I doing this? I should pick up a book. And then I buy books, and then I get sleepy and, you know, it's just that I'm back on the phone and I'm like, this is dumb.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Jess. Jokoi. Jokoi or Jokoi? She'll answer to both. Just don't call her late for dinner or Jess.

[Jess Jacoi]

People at work call me Jess and I don't. That's a long story for another podcast.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Oh, yeah. Well, hopefully you'll come back and visit us again and just keep lighting up the world with your beautiful music and your incredible voice. By the way, check her out. Jess. Jokoi, thank you for coming on Music. Save me.

[Jess Jacoi]

Thank you so much for. For having me.

[Joy Hardin Bradford]

I'm Dr. Joy Hardin Bradford, host of the Therapy for Black Girls podcast. I know how overwhelming it can feel if flying makes you anxious. In session 418 of the Therapy for Black Girls podcast, Dr. Angela Neal Barnett and I discuss flight anxiety.

[Lynne Hoffman]

What is not normal is to allow.

[Jess Jacoi]

It to prevent you from doing the.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Things that you want to do, the.

[Jess Jacoi]

Things that you were meant to do.

[Joy Hardin Bradford]

Listen to Therapy for Black Girls on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Honey German]

Hi, it's Honey German, and I'm back with season two of my podcast, Gracias. Come again. We got you. When it comes to the latest in music and entertainment, with interviews with some of your favorite Latin artists and celebrities, you didn't have to audition.

[Jess Jacoi]

No, I didn't audition. I haven't auditioned in, like, over 25 years.

[Honey German]

Oh, wow. That's a real G talk right there.

[Jess Jacoi]

Oh, yeah.

[Honey German]

We'll talk about all that's viral and trending with a little bit of Cheeseman and a whole lot of laughs. And, of course, the great biblas you've come to expect. Listen to the new season of Gracias. Come again on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Joy Hardin Bradford]

Do we really need another podcast with a condescending finance bro trying to tell us how to spend our own money? No, thank you. Instead, check out Brown Ambition. Each week I your host, Mandy Money gives you real talk, real advice with a heavy dose of I feel you, sis. Like on Fridays when I take your questions for the baqa. Whether you're trying to invest for your future, navigate a toxic workplace, I got you. Listen to Brown ambition on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Lynne Hoffman]

From tips for healthy living to the latest medical breakthroughs, WebMD's Health Discovered podcast keeps you up to date on today's most important health issues. Through in depth conversations with experts from across the healthcare community, WebMD reveals how today's health news will impact your life tomorrow.

[Jess Jacoi]

It's not that people don't know that exercise is healthy. It's just that people don't know why it's healthy. And we're struggling to try to help people help themselves and each other.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Listen to WebMD Health discovered on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Danny Shapiro]

Your entire identity has been fabricated. Your beloved brother goes missing without a trace. You discover the depths of your mother's illness. I'm Dani Shapiro, and these are just a few of the powerful stories I'll be mining on our upcoming 12th season of Family Secrets. We continue to be moved and inspired by our guests and their courageously told stories. Listen to Family Secrets Season 12 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jess Jacoi]

This is an iHeart podcast.